In reading these articles, I have
wondered how much these articles are based upon cultural differences between
myself and the authors. Al-Jibaly's article on beards is a prime example.
Al- Jibaly presents many arguments for the wearing of beards, that the
shaving of beards is a disobedience to Allah and to the Prophet Muhammad
(pbuh), an imitation of disbelievers and of women, etc. I do not
have any objections to men wearing beards; however, I prefer to remain
clean-shaven. Anyone seeing me would hardly consider my shaven face to
be effeminate. Nor do I consider those Muslim men who are beardless to
look effeminate as well. In fact, as I view photos of Muslim men from around
the world, I am struck by the numbers of men who are clean- shaven or wear,
at most, a mustache. It seems to me that many Egyptian and Iraqi men wear
only mustaches. Many American Muslim men who I'm familiar with are
also clean-shaven, like myself. I suspect that the expectation to
wear a beard has more to do with cultural differences. I can strive
to follow Muhammad's (pbuh) example just as easily clean-shaven as I can
by wearing a full beard. To me, the essence of being a Muslim comes
from within, rather than from outward appearances.

The articles on dancing by Orr
and Palmer probably have less to do with cultural differences than the
Al-Jibaly's article or the anonymous article on Halloween. Orr limits
his argument against dance by talking about modern ballroom dancing, although
he soon says, "Dancing is sex pure and simple, and impure sex." Palmer's
article makes no distinction between ballroom dancing and the entire range
of dance. My objection to these articles, Palmer's in particular,
is that they are too sweeping in their condemnation. Contrary to
Orr's assertion, not all dance is sex. Are the ballets "Swan Lake"
and "The Nutcracker Suite" sex? Hardly. I have seen dance used
to portray many emotions, not just love or lust. The article on music,
"Music and Singing
Haram?", strikes me as being well-balanced. The limitations that
it suggests for music could easily be applied to dance as well.

The article against Halloween
urges Muslims not to participate in the holiday, primarily because of its
origins and history. The author points out, correctly, that Halloween
developed out of the ancient Celtic festival, Samhain. However, what
the author neglects to point out is that there are other, independent origins
to the holiday. In central America, the Aztecs celebrated "Dia de
Los Muertos" (Day of the Dead) that was coopted into the Catholic Church
as a part of the Halloween season. Dia de Los Muertos extends over
three days, October 31 (Halloween), November 1 (All Saints' Day) and November
2 (All Souls' Day), the latter two of which are holy days of obligation
for Catholics. Thus, Halloween for certain countries and regions
of countries (including the state in which I live) has other cultural and
religious significance that the author never alluded to.

Another argument the author makes
is that "Muslim parents must teach their children to refrain from practicing
falsehood, and not to imitate the non-Muslims in their customs and festivals."
I find this to be a very poor argument from several perspectives.
Take, for example, the Olympics. Not only is this event well attended by
Muslims and non-Muslims, but the origins of the Olympics go back to the
days when this athletic festival was dedicated to the gods and goddesses
of Olympus. Should Muslims abstain from the Olympics because non-Muslims
started and attend the competitions or because its origins go back to the
days when Greek polytheism was practiced?

And how about those of us who
live in non-Muslim communities? Shall we isolate ourselves from our neighbors
because they do not share the same religion? Is not their culture
our culture too? In America, a religious community that isolates
itself from the mainstream culture is viewed suspiciously as a cult.
This is a position Muslims do not want to find themselves (or Islam) in.
Nor should we isolate ourselves when non-isolation can bring about the
acquisition of knowledge. Even the knowledge of the customs of other
cultures, Muslim and non-Muslim, can be of benefit to us.

For better or for worse, I was
born and raised in the American culture. I read the Koran and try to live
my life as best I can according to Islamic precepts. But when it
comes to matters of culture, I'm going to rely upon American culture because
that is what I'm most familiar and comfortable with. If that means
not wearing a beard, participating in a dance, or celebrating Halloween
with my neighbors, then so be it. I am answerable to Allah and my
own conscience.